Sister Margaret, formerly Sister Marie Consolata, entered the Community from Most Blessed Sacrament parish in Natrona Heights, Pa. She was raised in a home that reverenced the Catholic faith, and the example of her family, especially her mother, inspired her vocation. She attended Catholic schools and was impressed by the kindnesses and service of the Sisters. She remembers always wanting to be a teacher and helping others to learn about themselves and the world.
Sister Margie taught in a number of schools in the Pittsburgh diocese over a 40-year period including St. Cecilia (Glassport), Sts. Peter & Paul (Beaver), St. Basil (Carrick), St. Mary’s (Sharpsburg), St. Bonaventure (Glenshaw), Mount Alvernia High School (Millvale), All Saints (Etna),St. Mary’s (Beaver Falls), and St. Isaac Jogues School (St. Clair Shore, Michigan). Her longest teaching ministry was at Providence Heights Alpha School (25 years) where she held a variety of positions; teacher, bookkeeper, technology coordinator, and most recently, administrative support.
Sister Margie is grateful for the opportunities she has had to minister in a variety of ways over the past 50 years. She was always challenged to bring God into the lives of the students, staff and families that she worked with, to give them hope for the future, to instill the knowledge that God is always with them and loves them deeply. She is thrilled when she sees a student growing to be a better person, not just a better student with more book knowledge.
She tries to live every day with a sense of acceptance and gratitude, accepting God’s gifts graciously and taking no blessings for granted. She participated in a renewal program that led to a “spiritual awakening.” She got to know herself, God and others on a deeper, spiritual level, gaining an awareness beyond doubt that God is doing for her what she couldn’t do for herself, and that she is ready and willing to let God work in all areas of her life. “The Serenity Prayer is very meaningful to me,” says Sister Margie. “It gives me comfort and reassurance. It provides me with a very clear ‘spiritual’ solution to problems.”
Sister Margie describes herself as “quiet and a good listener, generous, loyal and dependable, patient and persevering.” She likes to “fix things” and enjoys working with computers and any technology. She also likes watching movies, dancing (watching & participating), listening to music, watching sports (especially Steelers football and Penguin hockey), and playing the guitar.